Legislators Support Minnesota Joining in Lawsuit against Trump Administration

SAINT PAUL, Minn – The People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus applauds Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson’s decision to join more than one dozen other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for the decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census has received swift and widespread opposition. The caucus released the following statement:

“We are disturbed by the recent decision made by the Trump Administration and the Department of Commerce to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. As a result of this decision, at least 12 states, including California and New York, have recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration in order to preserve a fair and accurate census. We support Minnesota joining these states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration.

“The last-minute decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census could have catastrophic consequences for the immigrant community and all Americans. The addition of the citizenship question could cause widespread fear among respondents, resulting in a decrease in public response rates for the census and produce undercounts. As a result, states with significant immigrant populations like ours stand to lose fair representation in our government and federal funding based on inaccurate and unfair census counts.

“It is important to not let the malicious intentions of the Trump Administration prevent an accurate count of immigrants and all Americans. Therefore, we support joining other states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration to prevent the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.”